Sweet with small-town charm, a cast of endearing supporting characters, and a heartwarming romance. It was easy to read as a stand-alone title but has some familiarity for those who read The Printed Letter Bookshop. Reay creates an easy-to-read enjoyable “everyday” novel – not that it’s mundane, but the plot lines aren’t completely unbelievable and we normal folk can often relate to the struggles and challenges the characters face. Overall, I’d recommend this one. It’s a cozy, slow-paced, easy read that’ll leave you with a happy sigh by the final chapter – second chances for the win!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of this title that I received via NetGalley. It was published May 12, 2020 and should be available from your favourite bookseller!

A cozy romance that deals with real-life issues. I haven't read the first book of this group so not sure if that was needed or not. I have read others of hers and this one wasn't my favorite though.

Katherine Reay is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed that she set Of literature and lattes in the same town as The printed letter bookshop, and I liked learning more about Alyssa and her family dynamics. I always appreciate that Katherine Reay allows her characters to be fully human in their flaws - and their good qualities. She doesn't shy away from writing about true-t0-life struggles, like Jeremy's issues as a single dad and trying to figure out how his ex fits into the picture after so many years of absence. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was still an enjoyable and pleasant read.

disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a cute, quick read! I didnt read the first one which may have affected my opinion, but I did enjoy this one and now look forward to reading the first!

I loved the book for the setting of a small town with community togetherness, the main characters and the mother-daughter relationship between Alyssa and her mom, Janet. This is a follow up to the previous book by this author, and leaves us in a place knowing there is another book to come. I was not thrilled with the religious aspects, but those were pretty minor. Alyssa returns home after her former company is being investigated by the FBI. Her relationship with her mother has always been challenging, and a new character, Jeremy, becomes her love interest. Recommended, and thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I did not know there was a previous book. Though this can be read as a stand alone, I do wonder if reading the first book would have helped me like this book more.
Overall, it was a ok read and some interesting characters. I do recommend reading the first book as there are references back to that story and I felt a bit lost at times.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.

My thoughts













Narrative and Plot








Of Literature and Lattes is a follow up book to the Printed Letter Bookshop. If you're interested in reading this one, I recommend reading the first book in order to fully understand how far each character has come.


The narrative is more about self reflection and philosophies of life. This is not a surprise if you are already familiar with The Printed Letter Bookshop ( my review). The way the book shifts from each character while narrating the story and still make us care for each of them is just heart warming.

The plot is not exactly a strong suit of the book. This book is more character driven. It is about the community and the people coming together in this cozy little town. That is so relevant in the current times because we might be physically distancing ourselves but this is no time for socially isolating anyone.







Characters and Conflicts










Alyssa and Jeremy are our main characters. One hits the rock bottom and the other dreams of a better life, at the beginning of the book and that's when they choose Winsome. Alyssa with her career blown takes a step back and comes to her hometown. Jeremy wants to build a relationship with his daughter and run his own coffee shop. Only, what we think might not be the rock bottom - it could be better or worse. What matters is how we move forward. Perhaps that is my biggest takeaway from this book. Particularly Janet, and how she has come out of her own bitterness.

Personally, I have a strong relationship with my mother but it is not always glossy and pretty.  On that level, I could deeply relate to the mother-daughter relationship in the book. While the romance was there, other relationships were given equal importance. Friendship and kinship aside, the book once again throws in the theme of spirituality and how one can actually find courage from it. And last but not the least, there are book talks. In The Printed Letter Bookshop review, I mentioned the possibility of a book club and the idea being rotated in the second book made me genuinely happy.








Conclusion










Literature and Lattes - the book has both in abundance. This is again a book that celebrates the good in humanity and just nudges us to forgive ourselves for all those burdens we carry within and become a better version of ourselves. On that note, I think everyone  who thinks on those lines should read this book.

Title: Of Literature and Lattes

Author: Katherine Reay

Pg: 336

Genre: Women’s fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

I’ve come to the conclusion that Katherine Reay’s books at least the physical version are hit or miss for me. However I have discovered that I prefer her books on audio to print. To me women’s fiction is better on audio for me.

Of Literature and Latte is the companion novel to The Printed Letter Bookshop. I wouldn’t consider it a sequel it has some of the same characters as the previous novel but the two main characters in this book are new characters.

However there’s slight spoilers for secondary characters in this one who were main characters in the first one. So if you don’t like any spoilers then I recommend reading The Printed Letter Bookshop first.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of ‘Of Literature and Lattes’, by Katherine Reay
Although overall a pleasant read with lovely characters and a charming setting, I feel that ‘Of Literature and Lattes’ missed the mark a little. Perhaps because the author was trying to pack way too much into one book, delving a little bit into the psyche and pain of many characters in this book. And maybe because the action got somewhat lost in long monologues that seemed at times a little repetitious. And I feel like one of the plot points, regarding Jeremy’s daughter, came kind of diluted—there was a lot more that could have been explored more in-depth there, especially in light of the fact that Jeremy was working on building a new life. But I don’t regret reading this book, and if someone wants to or has picked it up, I know there is a lot in there that they will enjoy. For one, the characters are quite appealing and I grew attached to a few of them. There are also some great descriptions that make the town of Winsome quite, well, winsome. And it’s always nice to hear about something picking up the pieces and carrying on—especially when the pieces were thrown all over the place by a big company more intent on profit than anything else. Sounds painfully familiar, doesn’t it? It’s nice to read about someone going through this familiar pain and coming out on the other side stronger and better, especially during these pandemically-charged times.

I found very difficult to read Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay; the fact that it is populated by a lot of characters is a bit confusing.
I had a lot of expectations regarding this book because it sounded one of the best ones.
Simply I haven't been in grade to enter in the story at all.

I am sorry.

Although Of Literature and Lattes can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading The Printed Letter Bookshop first. I think the more emotionally connected readers are to Winsome, the more impactful this novel’s themes of community and perspective will resonate. Additionally, readers will get to see and recognize familiar faces from the previous book.

The narration of this book was slightly difficult for me to adjust to, since the point of view shifted between multiple characters - sometimes in the same ongoing scene. However, in the end, I appreciated this style of storytelling and thought it gave a nice reprieve when I felt the main characters, Jeremy and Alyssa, were stuck in attitudes I didn’t like.

At first, I struggled to connect with Jeremy because of his relationship with his friend, Ryan. However, his growth and humility as the story progressed really endeared me to him and his story arc was a great illustration of the beauty of forgiveness and second chances. I also enjoyed Jeremy’s relationship with his daughter, Becca, and his commitment to present in her life.

Unfortunately, I didn’t relate or empathize with Alyssa with as much ease. Her tendency to pick fights rather than try to understand another person’s point of view was frustrating, especially with her mom consistently trying to pursue peace and reconciliation. Sadly, I was left wanting more with the resolution of this story arc, even if it wasn't incomplete.

Lastly, I thought the romance between Jeremy and Alyssa was kind of sudden – not in an insta-love type of way, but I didn’t think their relationship was built to the place where it wouldn’t take me by surprise. Once I adjusted to it though, I thought their romance was a perfect complement to the story and it added a good dose of sweetness and levity.

Overall, Of Literature and Lattes is a decent read filled with small-town charm, community, and second chances.

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Reay is truly the master at sweet and enthralling storylines. With stories full of literary references and modern-day twists, everything she puts together leaves me both lovestruck and engaged. I loved the first book in the Winsome series, "The Printed Letter Bookshop" and "Of Literature and Lattes" was more of her literary magic. I will read whatever Reay brings, as she has a way with developing characters in a timeless and realistic way.

I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine Reay's modern-day retellings of Jane Austen's novels. Unfortunately, Of Literature and Lattes is a miss for me. I found it confusing, with too many characters to make sense of and the quick switchbacks to different storylines. It would have been helpful to have the book with markings to indicate a switch from Alyssa's story to Jeremy's, for example. This novel didn't engage me. The Christian message was limited to mentions of The Serenity Prayer, church, and God - expansion of which would have elevated the story. My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC for this, my honest review.

Katherine Reay is a go-to author for smartly written tales that weave literary references into original narratives. She writes about all types of relationships, from sisters, different generations, female friendship and of course, romantic. After a couple really strong novels (her first, Dear Mr. Knightley remains my favorite), I lost my unwavering enthusiasm for Reay's work. The Printed Letter Bookshop had me very back on board, so I had high hopes for Of Literature and Lattes. Both are standalone novels, but characters from Printed Letter appear in Of Literature and Lattes, which is set in the same small town of Winsome, IL. I'm glad I had read Printed Letter to get some of the context for character development sake. And that's one of my biggest problems with this book - aside from Alyssa, one of the main characters, the development falls a little flat. Lots of things happened that left me wondering who is that? or when did that happen? The ending third did redeem my overall feelings for the book. Reay has introduced so many people from Winsome into this storyline, I kind of hope she continues to write about this small town.

I have loved all of Katherine Reay's books in the past and this was no exception! This one was super cute and enjoyable! The story, the characters, and writing style were great! I would say it is a perfect summer read!

This is the second in a series. However, it could be a standalone with a sequel to follow. You are introduced to characters that were in the first book but enough information is given about them for you to understand who they are and each of their complexities. The author brings us to the town of Winsome, Illinois. The main characters Alyssa and Jeremy have many layers and the author peels away those layers throughout the book. Reality, forgiveness, friendship, unpredictability, love and fun are in store for them as they spend the summer in this town. The author has a way of introducing literary books and mentioning various titles of children’s books that 7-year old Becca may read. Katherine Reay’s words are well-scripted and not totally predictable. She is able to keep the reader captivated with the cast of characters that live in this quaint town I thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Winsome and I look forward to coming back. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is completely my own. #OfLiteratureandLattes #NetGalley

I was unable to get into this story at all. The characters were difficult to connect with, and the random changes in POV were very hard to follow. I don't do this much, but this was a book I was unable to finish. From what I heard after starting it, this is the second book in a series. Maybe if I'd read book one first, I would have understood what was going on and been able to engage. That's the reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but this review is entirely my own opinion.

I enjoyed the literary quotes throughout this novel. Like this one by John Steinbeck, journal entry, 1938. “In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand…if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them….but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.”

I enjoyed this theme that naturally flowed through this novel along with all the book references. I was hooked from the first line, “It finally happened.”

Readers will be thrilled to be back in Winsome, Seattle. where our favorite bookstore is located from book one, The Printed Letter Bookshop. It’s also the town Alyssa tried to run away from. Now she finds herself crawling back wounded and under investigation by the FBI. Her head was spinning, how could this be happening?

Alyssa has had issues with her mother because of what she put the family through before she left. But Janet, her mother is back in their lives and she does not know how to handle it, she just wants to spend time with her dad and regroup.

Jeremy moves to Winsome to chase his daughter (his only child) and his dream to open a coffee shop called, The Daily Brew. I liked getting to know Jeremy as he follows his heart to be with his daughter, and enjoyed how he went about preparing to follow his dream not only to open a coffee shop with great tasting coffee, but to have it be a value to the community.

This is a heart-felt satisfying read that includes some characters from The Printed Letter Bookshop novel. The author did leave me wanting to know more about the FBI Investigation with Alyssa and the company she worked for. I also wanted the author to go a little deeper into how Janet and Seth dealt with their heartbreak and healing. I did like the growth and complexity of these characters and others as the story progressed.

I think the novel would be a better experience for the reader if they read book one first

And get to learn about the ladies in the bookstore. It can be read as a standalone. This novel has all the things I delight in books, bookstores, and coffee, mixed with flawed characters you feel and cheer for. It’s a win win. It makes for an enjoyable fun time and a delightful book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org

Alyssa has lost everything - her high-powered job in Silicon Valley and her home there. She may even be implicated in a scandal even though she is completely innocent. As she is broke, she has no choice but to go home to Winsome, a small town which she was anxious to leave. After reading that in order to go forward you have to go back, she feels a bit better about it. After all, her best friend is there, but Alyssa still has a conflicted relationship with her mother and a wounded soul.



Most of the people in this book also have problems. Jeremy has bought the local coffee shop, considered a 'home away from home' by the locals but they are upset with his changes, and he can't get ahead. He asks for Alyssa's help.



This book also features characters from The Printed-Letter Bookshop, including Janet, Alyssa's mother and Chris and Maddie. Most of them are hurt and struggling, but Winsome, a warm, friendly town and community helps to heal them, along with faith, which plays an important role in this Christian novel.



I love Katherine Reay's writing and the , but calling the town Winsome is taking it a little far, I think. It seems a bit too cliched!



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I recently finished reading Katherine Reay's new book, Of Literature and Lattes. It was the second book in her series that is set in Winsome, Illinois. I also read her first book set in Winsome, The Printed Bookshop. Katherine Reay has a way of drawing the reader in that makes you feel like you are part of this lovely, small town. She also is wonderful at moving the story along using different characters and their interactions with each other. The main character in this second book is Alyssa Harrison who is moving back home after her dream job with a tech start-up in California lands her in some "hot water" with the FBI. Moving back home reopens the unresolved issues that create drama between her and her mother. She thought that she had left that all behind her, but life has a way of bringing things back around. The second character that plays a major role is Jeremy Mitchell who is moving to Winsome from Seattle to be near his young daughter and to open his own coffee shop. The town of Winsome is full of lovely characters that Reay makes seem so real and inviting. You don't have to read The Printed Bookshop first, but I would highly recommend it too. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.